Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-05-21
WHEAT CULTURE.
What is Necessary to Make Wheat
Growing Successful and Remunera-
tive.

~ tilN RtNhNhiN'
1t is very important with all farm
work to do whatever is to be done
thoroughly and at as near the proper
time as possible, and especially is this
true Of wheat culture. Thorough til
lage, in my opinian, is the most i'm
portant factor in successful wheat Gull
ture. OF course the soil must be fer
tile. If it is not rich it must be made
SO, for nothing will thrive well
on poor soil. Thorough tillage or
filming the soil for all crops
before planting is the only plan by
which the full productive capacity of
any soil can be determined, for in ex-
actly the same proportion as clods eX-
list are the nourishing elements of
plants locked up. The roots of wheat
are exceedingly delicate and cannot
penetrate the hard, dry Jumps ofsoil,
but will exhaust their energy in go
ing around and under them, through
open spaces between them. These
open spaces Gn dry time) are active
agents in evaporating the moisture so
much needed by the young plants in
fortifying against an attack from eth
err the fly or chilling blasts of winter.
In other words wheat requires a
a solid but perfectly pulverized seed
bed to insure prompt termination,
and prevent winter killing. With
thorough tillage, careful selection Of
seed, proper attention given the drill,
harvesting in the best manner, and
more than ordinary skill in market
ing, will generally prove remunera-
tive. OF course a great deal depends
upon the season, but not all, a very
fair crop may be secured by thorough
work that in the end will prove as
profitable as if crops were more abun-
dant. 1t is not often that we have
entire failures when proper pains are
taken to do all the work well and at
the proper time, while in an unfavor-
able season when proper care is not
given, nothing will be made. In
deed / had rather take the chances
with field of ordinary fertility with
thorough tillage at the proper time
than the same field with slip-shod
tillage and liberal application OF
fertilizer.
While insist on thorough tillage
| would not have it understood that
| undervalue liberal use ofany good
fertilizer. Indeed do not know a
single fieldin our county sown to
wheat that l would not apply at least
100 lbs of Homestead fertilizer to the
acre. Iffor.no other purpose would
use it to hasten the maturity of the
crop, which it will do from a week tc
ten days, thereby certifying it against
rust, which often blasts the fairest
prospects in two or three days.
AS to the best time for commencing
the work for a wheat crop, farmers
differ. There are a few farmers al
ways up with their work, ready tC
grasp every opportunity for doing
their work well, who never complain
of bad luck or regret lost opportuni
ties. Such farmers always commence
work early and are generally success
full. While there are many consider
ed good ones who never commence
blowing until the last bell rings o,
the moon changes, what is the con
sequence? They have hard grount
to work, or wait for rain, which may
not fall for days, or even weeks, if i
) comes at all. If it does not come thu
blowing must be done, extra team
must now be employed, and the wear
ing of muscles, sinews, and plov
points begins, and when the work i
done it is not satisfactory and the dis
heartened farmer spends days ant
sometimes weeks in making small
clods of large ones. If at harvest hi
crop is not remunerative bad luck O
the moon has all the blame to bear
/ have learned from observation tina
the most successful wheat growers ar
those who commence blowing Gal
ways moving the harrow to the fiel,
with the plow ready to harrow tn
previous days blowing in the morn
n ing while the dew is on, before tn
= sun hardens the clods, just before 0
: about the time the green crop to b
: ploWed under reaches its maximum
]. succulent state. Turned under at thi
|. stage it is made available plant foo
for the coming crops, whereas if a
lowed to reach the woody stat
land especially so Of coarse gree
manure) its mechanical action wi
:, prevent that close contact of soil wit